2012 Ford Mondeo — MOT failures & pass rate
104,522 MOT tests on the 2012 Ford Mondeo are in this dataset, and 78.0% of them passed. That is effectively the same as large family cars of a similar age (21.6% fail rate), so the MOT record here is unremarkable in either direction. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 10.6% of tests against 7.5% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are pins and bushes, headlamp aim and tread depth — pins and bushes alone was recorded 6,192 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 24.5% versus 13.4%.
The petrol cars hold up better: 18.2% fail against 22.3% for diesel, a 4.1-point gap across 104,522 tests.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 31.4% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 20.9% of tests failed in 2021 against 23.4% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 10.6% | 11,091 |
| 2 | Suspension | 7.5% | 7,865 |
| 3 | Tyres | 7.1% | 7,458 |
| 4 | Brakes | 5.4% | 5,672 |
| 5 | Steering | 3.8% | 4,016 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 3.7% | 3,836 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pins and bushes | 6,192 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 5,723 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 4,302 |
| 4 | Track rod end | 4,124 |
| 5 | Brake pads | 3,267 |
| 6 | Position lamp | 2,882 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 31.4% | 32,864 |
| 2 | Tyres | 30.4% | 31,781 |
| 3 | Brakes | 25.2% | 26,296 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 11.7% | 12,230 |
| 5 | Other defects | 9.3% | 9,754 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 7.9% | 8,303 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 0-30k | 831 | 13.4% |
| 30-60k | 7,123 | 15.4% |
| 60-90k | 21,497 | 19.6% |
| 90-120k | 29,373 | 22.4% |
| 120-150k | 22,807 | 23.5% |
| 150k+ | 22,784 | 24.5% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 96,961 | 22.3% |
| Petrol | 7,561 | 18.2% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 22,715 | 20.9% |
| 2022 | 22,006 | 21.1% |
| 2023 | 21,142 | 22.0% |
| 2024 | 20,056 | 23.0% |
| 2025 | 18,603 | 23.4% |
What to check before buying a 2012 Mondeo
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 10.6% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (10.6% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (7.5% of tests): Worn drop links, bushes, springs or shocks — listen for knocks over bumps and check for uneven tyre wear. Typical repair: £150–£450 per corner.
- Tyres (7.1% of tests): Usually a quick, known-cost fix, but check tread, age and uneven wear (which can hint at alignment or suspension issues). Typical repair: £50–£120 per tyre.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
How many 2012 Ford Mondeos pass their MOT?
78.0% of the 104,522 2012 Ford Mondeo MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 22.0% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2012 Ford Mondeo?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 10.6% of tests, followed by suspension (7.5%).
Does the 2012 Mondeo get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 13.4% in the 0-30k band to 24.5% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 104,522 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-27. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.